What is the real name of Table Mountain?
Hoerikwaggo
The original name for Table Mountain was “Hoerikwaggo” meaning “Mountain in the Sea”, given to it by the Khoisan. This later changed when, in 1503, Portuguese explorer, Antonio de Saldanha, hiked the mountain (the first recorded hike in history) and renamed it Tabao de Cabo (“table of the Cape”).
What is the history behind Table Mountain?
Its distinctive cloud cover, known popularly as “the table-cloth”, or to the French as the “perruque” (the wig), is said to have been the result of a tobacco smoking competition held between the Devil and Jan van Hunks, a retired privateer who inhabited the slopes of nearby Devil’ Peak.
What is special about Table Mountain?
Table Mountain is the most iconic landmark of South Africa. It is also the country’s most photographed attraction and its famous cable car took millions of people to its top. Table Mountain has become the single most welcoming icon to not only our people, but travellers from all over the world.
Who smokes with the devil on Table Mountain?
The fable includes a retired Dutch pirate, called Van Hunks. He loved smoking his pipe, on the side of Table Mountain. One day, while sitting on his favourite spot, the Devil joined him and challenged him to a smoking competition. Both Van Hunk and the Devil refused to give up, they puffed and puffed for days.
Who is Jan Van Hunks?
The legendary folk-tale tells of Jan Van Hunks, a Dutch pirate who settled at the foot of the mountain in the early 1700s. Jan was a frequent smoker and his wife eventually forced him to leave the house and smoke his pipe outside. It was on one of these occasions that he met a tall mysterious man dressed in black.
What does Hoerikwaggo mean?
mountain in the sea
To the indigenous people of the Cape, the Khoisan, Table Mountain was known as Hoerikwaggo, meaning ‘mountain in the sea’ – more inspiring than ‘Table of the Cape’.
How many people have fallen off Table Mountain?
According to the SAMA database, 158 people died on Western Cape mountains between 1980 and 2022, and 594 were injured.
What is the smoke tablecloth on Table Mountain caused by?
The tablecloth has its beginnings as moisture-laden air blown in from the Atlantic against the eastern slopes of Table Mountain, where it is forced to rise. The air condenses on contact with the cooler summit air, forming cloud.
Is Table Mountain really flat?
Around 300 million years ago the mountain was still at sea level during an ice age and ice sheets flattened the layers of sandstone creating the flat surface that today we call the ‘Table Top’. When the continents split apart, stresses and pressures built up in the earth’s crust.
How much are tickets for Table Mountain?
Ticket prices
| Ticket Type | Time | Return |
|---|---|---|
| Morning: Adults | 8am – 1pm | R390 |
| Morning: Kids (4 – 17 years) | 8am – 1pm | R190 |
| Afternoon: Adults | 1pm – until close | R320 |
| Afternoon: Kids (4 – 17 years) | 1pm – until close | R160 |
How long do you spend up Table Mountain?
Table Mountain hosts visitors on average for 2-3 hours for a reasonable amount of time. Most days, however, could get busy. On busy days, the cable car could take an additional 1-3 hours, making the average time spent on Table Mountain up to 6 hours.
Is Table Mountain still growing?
Table Mountain National Park is the most visited national park in South Africa, attracting 4.2 million people every year for various activities. The mountain has 8,200 plant species, of which around 80% are fynbos, meaning fine bush….
| Table Mountain | |
|---|---|
| Geology | |
| Age of rock | Silurian/Ordovician |
| Mountain type | Sandstone |
| Climbing |
Can you hike Table Mountain for free?
Hiking the Table Mountain National Park is mostly free with the exception of some areas where conservation fees are to be paid like the Kirstenbosch Garden, Cape Point or Boulders.